Meet Austin Auz Miles, this week's guest editor and a multidisciplinary painter and public artist from Richmond. With a BFA from Virginia Commonwealth University, her work explores beauty norms, spirituality, and women's experiences in the African Diaspora. Her 2019 TedTalk, "1000 Words," delved into the societal impact of imagery. Auz collaborated with Jamestown Settlement, creating art that's now part of their permanent collection. Her installation, Water Dancers Part I, won the 2021 Director's Choice Award at the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art. A member of the All City Art Club, Auz contributes to nationwide murals, fostering visual dialogues for community growth.
As a dedicated dog mom to an energetic pup, Oatmeal, she balances her passion for painting with hiking in nature. She has newly adopted roller skating during the pandemic, zealously honing her skills in sunny afternoons with an aspiration to master it. A tea aficionado, she relishes new tea varieties and eagerly anticipates hosting tea parties.
Take it away, Auz...
House @ Haus
For all the House Music lovers, House @ Haus is happening this Friday with DJ Omar Faison! Haus & Market is a creative and innovative space that curates space for collaboration, community building, and support for arts and culture in Petersburg. Come and see the current photography exhibition by Rashid Hines, a local Petersburg photographer, and catch a vibe with DJ Omar. The weather is beautiful this weekend and it’s Friday for The Arts in Petersburg.
I love going for long scenic walks during beautiful weather. This weekend enjoy a relaxing stroll on the Canal Walk and view all of the murals. In 2022, myself and other River City based muralists painted in the RVA Street Art Festival, bringing new murals to the Canal Walk. My mural, PURR, features The Brown Ballerinas For Change. PURR is a colorful, energetic mural about freely existing and self expression.
When I am looking for a delicious and healthy bite to eat and cup of tea, and I love tea, I stop by Urban Hang Suite. I love the cozy environment and good vibes! They also are always exhibiting local Richmond artists! Currently exhibiting is the amazing Jowarnise Caston. This weekend, visit Urban Hang Suite to enjoy some good eats and beautiful artwork.
Vitals:
Urban Hang Suite / 7:30 am - 2:00 pm Monday - Friday. 304 E. Broad Street
More From Auz.
This school year, I am a Girl Action Team Leader at Girls For A Change. I am teaching a sewing class at Girls For A Change (GFAC), titled Sewing for Unconventional Artists. Teaching sewing to young girls is extremely rewarding. I love to see them excited and empowered to make functional items for themselves. Inspired by my Grandma Carrie, who was a seamstress, I began sewing a few years ago. Since learning how to sew, I have met so many women who have also inherited sewing, passed down from mother to daughter, grandmother to granddaughter. Majority of the tips and tricks I have learned from sewing have been shared with me from other women. Sewing circles really are the best way to learn and get excited about sewing. At GFAC, I am excited about holding a “sewing circle” every week, for the young ladies to learn and grow together.
Meet Erin Lunsford, this week's guest editor! Erin is a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist originally from Fincastle, Virginia. She's been making music and teaching voice in RVA since 2018. You might know her as the front woman of Richmond-based Erin & The Wildfire or from her solo residency @ Common House in 2023. Her lyrics embrace body positivity, self love, female empowerment, and inner growth.
Take it away, Erin...
Fuel The Body
Springtime has me in the flow creatively and I love to pair that with some coffee to keep me focused and productive. My favorite coffee spot is Buna Kurs Ethiopian Cafe. Woman owned and operated, this spot is so beautiful and has a perfect little patio in Jackson Ward. My go-to drink is the Honey Cardamom Latte - it's what dreams are made of. This shop also hosts a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony on Saturdays at 2pm as well as different community pop-ups like yoga, zumba, jewelry sales, traditional dinners, and music. The owner, Lily, is so sweet and works hard to bring the community together through her delicious Ethiopian food.
To keep my writing space feeling fresh and inspiring, I like to decorate with plants (like a lot of plants) and I love to listen to music that sparks my imagination. You can find gorgeous curated plants and a great selection of local vinyl at Shades Of Moss - RVA's Neighborhood House Plant & Indie Record Shop. This shop will help you pick out plants to suit your space and style and send you off with an indie record so you can enjoy your plant with the best possible vibes. Check out the Shades Of Moss IG for their plant classes and listening room events too. They also have mugs, totes, stickers, and books if you need some more retail therapy while you're there.
I'm biased, but I'm so excited to invite you to my single release show at The Get Tight Lounge this Saturday April 6th. My song "Lightning So Blue" will drop on all listening platforms Friday and we are hosting a show Saturday night to celebrate! I wrote this song to encourage women to feel good in their sexuality and confident in their ability to talk openly about pleasure. My band Erin & The Wildfire has been making music for over a decade and we are very proud to be a part of the dynamic Richmond music scene. This single release is part of a string of releases that we will compile into an album in 2025. The Get Tight Lounge is a relatively new venue in the RVA scene and they feature all kinds of music almost every night of the week. We are honored to have local jazz soul band Shera Shi opening up the night at 8pm. Doors at 7:30pm.
Erin Lunsford is an award-winning singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist (guitar, banjo, piano) originally from Fincastle, Va and now located in Richmond, Va. Best known as the front-woman, lead vocalist and lyricist in touring indie-pop/soul band Erin & The Wildfire, her vocals have been described as soulful, expressive, and powerhouse and her effortless vocal process has been compared to Chris Stapleton, Eva Cassidy, and Susan Tedeschi.
Erin has a love for personal storytelling - rooted in a deep history of family folk music - that is highlighted by her poignant lyrics and unforgettable vocal prowess, as evidenced in her most recent releases.
The Wildfire’s “Touchy Feely,” was released in April 2022 after a year and a half of virtual songwriting. The lyrics are an exploration of self-love and self-acceptance through body positivity, inner child healing, and letting go of limiting thoughts to make space for growth. Female empowerment, the antithesis of a damsel in distress, is at the heart of Lunsford's music and message, making "The Damsel,” an intentionally ironic title for her solo album. The album takes a deep dive into unrequited love, family forgiveness, and coming-of-age in your 20s, and spans genres spouting from Erin's bluegrass roots and folding into her soulful, R&B vocal tendencies.
Erin & The Wildfire’s first show after 2020’s pandemic hiatus was a sold-out Friday Cheers in Richmond, Va in 2021. The band then made their debut on NPR’s Mountain Stage alongside Amy Helm, Chris Pierce, and Christian Lopez. E&TW has provided direct support for national tours including Sammy Rae & The Friends’ 2022 Follow Me Like the Moon Tour, Maggie Rose’s Summer 2022 Tour, and The Dip’s Fall 2019 Tour. They have shared the stage with other dynamic acts including Oh He Dead, Marcus King Band, Natalie Prass, Jill Scott, Butcher Brown, Mighty Joshua, The Village People, and Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds.
Solo, Lunsford has opened for Darrell Scott, Love Canon, Bruce Hornsby, Carbon Leaf, Love Canon, The Village People, Leon Russel and more, and performed with Keller Williams and Leftover Salmon, the Grammy-award winning newgrass band, The Infamous Stringdusters, and Pimps of Joytime.
Meet Tom Zydel, this week's guest editor! Tom is the Vice President of Advancement and Engagement at Maymont. He has a decade of experience in nonprofit management and leadership, including roles at renowned institutions like Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. His dynamic approach to community engagement has seen him spearhead initiatives such as expanding the Maymont Membership program and relaunching the Adopt an Animal program. Originally from New Jersey, Tom now proudly calls Richmond home, where he resides with his family in Chesterfield. They enjoy outdoor adventures and exploring museums together, all while savoring the hunt for authentic New Jersey-style pizza across the metro area.
Take it away, Tom...
Family Easter at Maymont
The ultimate Easter weekend in Richmond starts with Dominion Energy Family Easter on Saturday at Maymont, and is capped off with Easter on Parade on Monument Avenue. Every spring, Maymont invites the entire community to come out and meet the Easter Bunny, pet some baby goats and alpacas, play games, and meet Nola the river otter, the latest rescued resident of The Robins Nature Center. There’s room for everyone, with activities on the 6-acre Carriage House Lawn, by The Robins Nature Center and at Maymont Farm.
Vitals:
Dominion Energy Family Easter, Saturday, March 30th, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm, $5 per person, free for members and Museums for All; all three entrances open for the event: 1700 Hampton Street, 1001 Spottswood Road, and 2201 Shields Lake Drive
Chesterfield Restaurant Week
This week marks the first-ever Chesterfield Restaurant Week, with over 40 restaurants that prove you CAN find good food out in the ‘burbs. My favorite is Sergio’s Pizza’s chicken parm; my Sicilian-American mother endorses the veal parm. My family also adores Pakwaan Indian Cuisine. So good.
Vitals: Chesterfield Restaurant Week / March 29 - April 7, check participating restaurants for special offers, event proceeds support the Chesterfield Food Bank Outreach Center
Take a Hike!
No youth sports this weekend with the holidays, but Richmond has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to outdoor adventures, all within easy reach. From the James River Park System to Pocahontas State Park, there are trails to explore and trees to climb. We love going to Pocahontas, which just happens to be Virginia’s largest state park, with 90 miles of trails, three lakes and an aquatic center.
Vitals:
Pocahontas State Park, open daily 7:30 am – dusk, $7 per car ($10 weekends, April - October), 10301 State Park Rd., Chesterfield
More About Maymont.
Built in 1893 for James and Sallie Dooley, Maymont has been a public park and house museum since 1925, when the 100-acre estate was bequeathed “for the use and pleasure of people of the City of Richmond.” A nature center and farm animals were added in the late 1950s, and in 1975, the city appointed the Maymont Foundation to assume responsibility for its restoration and ongoing operations. Funded primarily by individual donations, the nonprofit organization has restored the entire property, and maintains it as a public greenspace, open daily without admission, along with programs and events to engage the entire community.
As Maymont approaches its 100th anniversary as a public park, the Foundation is undertaking a $11.75 Million campaign, Maymont 2025. With a combination of public and private funds, Maymont is restoring the roof of the Maymont Mansion using a red slate that comes from the same quarry as the original roof designed in 1893. Another exciting component of the project is reconfiguring the habitats for the rescued native wildlife – connecting the pathways more fluidly and adding two new species, coyote and porcupine – to reopen in 2025 as The Virginia Wildlife Trail. The vast majority of Maymont’s rolling landscape will remain open daily during construction, and the events calendar is packed with fun community gatherings.
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